Mauritius is deep in its tropical summer. It’s hot and humid and often punctuated by dramatic afternoon downpours that arrive, do their worst, and clear before you’ve finished your sundowner. The sunny spells in between are perfect for a morning kayak.

Warm seas and excellent visibility reward every minute underwater. Blue Bay Marine Park and the northern reefs in particular are in prime condition.

February is Mauritius at its wettest and days are characterised by intense tropical downpours. Mauritius is a beautiful country regardless of the weather, but due to the high chance of cyclones, we’d probably say it’s not the ideal time to visit.

If you can brave the tumultuous weather, the Maha Shivaratri pilgrimage is one of the largest Hindu gatherings outside India. It’s truly humbling to see hundreds of thousands of barefoot devotees walk through the night to the sacred lake of Grand Bassin.

March marks the slow easing of summer and the wet, tropical weather. It’s still warm - and definitely still capable of a downpour! - but the risk of cyclones begins to fade and the island takes a deep breath.

Conditions are perfect for a round of golf on the championship courses near Belle Mare on the east coast.

Holi arrives in a cloud of colour. Powder flies, music plays and the normally reserved Mauritian streets are transformed into a riot of joy and celebration. Our advice? Wear something you don’t mind losing to the colourful dye and embrace the festivities.

April signals the end of the wet season. The rains retreat and conditions begin to settle and it’s an ideal time for hiking along the crater rim of Trou aux Cerfs in the island’s centre.

In the ocean, snorkellers and divers who waited out the summer will be rewarded with much clearer conditions as the plankton levels drop.

Tamil and Telugu New Year bring temple ceremonies and traditional feasts to the island. If you are visiting now, it’s a fascinating window into Mauritius’s culture that goes unnoticed to most of the island’s visitors.

May offers some of the island’s best weather, and it does so below the radar: dry winter conditions, low humidity and fewer tourists to share the island with. Perfect for a coastal cycle along the southern shoreline between Mahébourg and Blue Bay.

Spinner and bottlenose dolphins also appear regularly off Tamarin Bay and a peaceful morning boat trip is the best way to see them in all their glory.

Beautiful, dry weather, cool air, and steady sunshine make June an excellent month to visit Mauritius. Just remember to bring a couple of warmer layers as the evenings can get quite chilly.

The first humpback whales also begin passing on their northward migration in an opening act for what becomes one of the island’s most extraordinary spectacles.

July is the coolest month of the year but still warm and dry (remember to bring a light layer for the evenings). If you’re a kite surfer, take advantage of the southeast trade winds that sweep across the island and create world-class surfing conditions.

The dry winter weather continues across Mauritius. The trade winds are still blowing, but sunshine is reliable and conditions are excellent (and a little cooler) for hiking inland trails in the Black River Gorges National Park.

The festival of Ganesh Chaturthi to celebrate the birth of Lord Ganesha, fills the island with colour and ceremony, culminating in the ritual immersion of clay statues into the sea. It’s a completely genuine way to experience the culture of the island.

Spring begins to stir across Mauritius and a little rainfall starts to appear, but the days are largely long and sunny. If anything, the sprinkling of rain gives Mauritius a refreshed energy and the beaches and forests are lush and beautiful.

On the east coast, the beaches around Belle Mare are at their brilliant, crowd-free best.

The Père Laval pilgrimage draws thousands of people of all faiths to the chapel of one of the island’s most beloved figures, Jacque-Désiré Laval, the Apostle of Mauritius, in Port Louis. It’s a side of the island’s culture that’s easy to miss.

October is widely considered one of the best months to visit Mauritius. Dry weather, warm temperatures and calm seas make the island particularly easy to enjoy and snorkelling the coral gardens of Blue Bay Marine Park is especially rewarding.

Reef life intensifies as the ocean warms and diving conditions are optimal. It’s a great month to spend as much time underwater as above it!

It’s also the time of Diwali, the festival of light, celebrated by Hindu Mauritians. The festival transforms the island after dark with candles, fireworks and colourful flowers, and it’s a time that’s both deeply sacred and thoroughly festive.

Summer begins to return to the island. Temperatures rise, humidity creeps back in and the occasional shower signals the approaching wet season. Turtles appear more frequently around the reefs and are completely unbothered by snorkellers hovering nearby.

Mauritius slips back into tropical summer and with it, a holiday mood with plenty of visitors coming to the island for the festive season: catholic midnight mass, beach barbecues, Creole music and New Year fireworks.

The weather at this time of year is good, but towards the end of the month, expect some rain to creep back in.